The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-23
INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Their Proper Care and Manasemsnt--Im-
portant Suggestions by the Ohio state
Board OF Health.


Their Proper Care and Manasemsnt--Im.
portant Suggestions by the Ohio state
Board OF Health.
Thousands Of children die every year
from improper care and bad surround
ings. It is estimated that out Of one
hundred live-born children, from forty
to fifty will die before the close of the
fifth year. That n large proportion of
these deaths could be prevented, Is well
established. and the State Board Of
Health has presented herewith. in simple
form, instructions for the care and
management of children, which, II fol-
lowed. will be the means of saving each
year many precious lives.
In seeking for the cause of this ex-
cessivc infant mortality, we find that
the acute infectious fevcrs, such as
measles, diphtheria, smallpox, scarlet
fever and whooping-cough; inilamma-
tions of the respiratory apparatus, as
pneumonia, bronchitis, ETC., and diar-
rhpal diseases, are the main factors in
producing it.
Smallpox. scarlet fever, diphtheria,
etc., are to be prevented by avoiding
exposure to these diseases, or to cloth
ing or other articles containing the
poison by which they are caused.
1t is to be specially urged that chill
dren be vaccinated ut an early age. and
thus be protected from that dread dis
ease, smallpox.
Circulars on the restriction and pre-
vention of these diseases have been
issued by the Board, and will be sent to
any one on application.
The other causes of death of children,
viz, inflammation of the lungs and
diarrhGal diseases. may be largely pre-
vented by precautions in regard to ex-
posure and diet. Great care is needed
with little children, to provide them
with proper
CLOTHING.
The first want of newborn babe is
heat. 1t is unable to supply sufficient
heat to keep itself warm. even when
heavily clothed hence, unless constant
ly in bed with its mother during the
first week or two of life, the rooms it
inhabitants must be constantly kept
warm.
AS the child grows older and is
placed, as it should always be, to sleep
by itself, twill often, by it's restless
ness, become uncovered at night. II
should sleep in night dresses of flannel,
preferably made rs one garment and
sewed up at the bottom, so the feet Can
not become uncovered.
Clothing for children should always
be made very loose, giving their limb:
and lungs free movement. 1t is when
children are old enough to walk and bt
out of doors that the greatest care is
demanded for protecting them by
proper clothing. 1t is at this age that
deaths SO frequently occur from acute
intlammatory affections of the lungs,
and this is undoubtedly due to expos.
ure and improper dress. Care must be
taken to clothe the limbs and ches
warmly. Mothers are often negligent
in this respect, and children may fire.
quently be seen in cold weather
clothed in heavy skirts and dresses
but with legs and necks comparativel,
bare.
1t should be remembered that il
most houses in winter, Il cold stratum
of air is to be found near the floor, an,
hence, infants placed on the floor ma,
be greatly exposed to cold in com
paratively warm room.
CLEANLINESS.
! Attention must be given to cleanli
ness, and children should not be al
lowed to sleep in soiled garments
Clothing worn Mt night should b
shaken and thoroughly aired when re
moved in the morning. The clothin.
and napkins soiled by the discharge
of young infants should be removed a
once, and not used again until washed
and thoroughly dried. The washing
and airing should not be done in tn
! nursery or living rooms.
| Unless children are very feeble the.
should have frequent baths, excep
when otherwise directed by the physi
| clan. If they are too delicate for a full
bath, sponging should be substituted
The popular idea that dirty childre
are the healthiest, is certainly not tru
in regard to nursing infants.
The factor of greatest Importance t
the health of children is their
| FOOD AND FEEDING.
Especially is this true of nursing
and children under two years of age
The only natural and best possible foo
for an infant is breast milk. If tn
mother has sufficient supply and is i
| good health, or if Il suitable wet nurs
can be secured, nothing but breast mil
and pure water should be given tn
child for the first five OF six months
The child is very frequently injured b.
overlooking. A feverish child, cravini
water, is often given an inor,linat
supply of food. by nursing, to quenc
its thirst. Many things besides hunge
cause children to cry and be restles:
and as rule, for the first two month
they should not be nursed oftener tina
once in two hours, and older childre
not so often. From the first. childre
should be nurscd less frequently {
night, and the mother must not slee
with her child at the breast.
After the first week or two the chill
should always sleep by itself. The mott
! or should cnrefullv fruorl hnr NV